Bormioli Rocco Diamond

The 30 cl is the smallest: handy for water at dinner, for juice at breakfast and for a short drink over ice. The 39 cl is the most versatile of the three, because there is room left over once you fill it with ice cubes. The 47 cl long drink glass is meant for drinks with plenty of mixer, where at least a third of the capacity goes to ice. As for colour: clear lets the drink speak for itself, while blue and purple add their own tint and look best with clear drinks. For more variants see the coloured glasses and the wider offering from Bormioli Rocco.

Always pour long drinks over ice, not past it: fill the glass three-quarters with cubes first, then pour in the spirit and only after that the mixer. That keeps the fizz alive for longer. A gin and tonic comes into its own in the 47 cl glass, with room for a slice of citrus. The 39 cl tumbler is the size for a mojito, because you still need space for mint and lime alongside the crushed ice. Keep the 30 cl for water and soft drinks at the table.

Diamond is pressed soda-lime glass, not crystal. That means thicker walls, more weight and a good deal more resistance to knocks than a thin-walled glass. The series can simply go in the dishwasher. With the relief, watch one thing: limescale settles into the facets and shows up there faster than on smooth glass. Use rinse aid, or rinse with a splash of vinegar in the water if you live in a hard water area.

If you want the same format without the relief, have a look at the tumblers or the long drink glasses for a smooth version. If you want more colour on the table instead, the full offering is with the coloured glasses already mentioned above. For making the drinks themselves, from jigger to muddler, the kit is with the bar spoons. And if you would rather have a stemmed glass for the same cocktails, look at the cocktail glasses.